The Mid-Autumn Festival has marked its return in George Town with a variety of traditional treats and vibrant decorations, reflecting both cultural heritage and local preferences. Central to the celebrations are mooncakes and distinctive figurine biscuits, known locally as “kung chai peng,” which remain popular among festival-goers, especially children.

These figurine biscuits, often molded into shapes such as fish, chickens, and rabbits, are typically sold in small traditional baskets. Esther Loh, a fourth-generation baker aged 28, noted that the Penang-style figurine biscuits are softer compared to those found in other regions, aligning with local tastes. Her father, Loh Mun Loong, 59, explained that both the mooncake crust and the figurine biscuits share common ingredients—golden syrup, oil, and flour—but differ in their proportions. Mooncakes have less flour in their outer layer, creating a thinner and softer crust, while the figurine biscuits include more flour to maintain their intricate shapes. He also mentioned that freshly baked biscuits are allowed to rest for two to three days to enhance their flavor and texture.

While many figurine biscuits are plain and animal-shaped, the bakery also produces round versions filled with ingredients such as coconut, red bean, and melon seeds, offering a range of flavors for festival attendees. The Loh family bakery, located on Lebuh Cintra, has been operating since the early 1900s and began selling its festival pastries starting from the first day of the seventh lunar month this year.

Nearby, a 76-year-old dim sum restaurant contributed to the festive atmosphere with its elaborate decorations. This year, the restaurant hung over 2,000 traditional cellophane lanterns, creating a colorful display that has become a hallmark of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the area. According to the restaurant’s manager, Darren Ho, the lanterns—priced between RM14 and RM35—were sourced from various parts of Malaysia, including Teluk Intan, Kuala Lumpur, and Ipoh.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on September 25 this year, corresponds to the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, a time when communities come together to enjoy traditional foods and vibrant cultural displays.